Today the Great Danes of Albany are a Division I school, yet during their time on the wrestling mat most of their success came at the Division III level.
 |
123, 115 lbs
Warren Crow |
There were only two men who ever defeated Portland State's Rick Sanders during his four years of collegiate wrestling and you're looking at one of them. Warren Crow began his career at Cornell but quickly transferred to Albany where he had a stand out career for the Great Danes. In 1966 as junior not only would he win the NCAA Division II title but he would also place fourth at the NCAA Division I tournament. He repeated at Division II champion in 1967.
Post college he taught and coached at the high school level in both Albany and in the state of Hawaii. He also coached at Union College.
 |
118 lbs
Dave Averill |
Dave Averill would place seventh at the NCAA Division III tournament twice in 1982 and 1983 before capping off his career as a national champion in 1984. Post college he worked Counter Terrorism for the government as well as being senior investigator of security for Verizon.
 |
118 lbs
Shawn Sheldon |
A graduate of Vorheesville high school, Shawn Sheldon took a career of only placing at state once (third in 1983) and turned it into the most successful of anyone who ever competed for Albany. Placing sixth at the NCAA Division III tournament as a sophomore in 1984, he would win an NCAA DIII title as a junior in 1986, capping his college career with runner-up honors in 1987.
Post his collegiate career, Sheldon had an outstanding career at the international level. He took bronze medals at both the 1987 and 1991 PAN-American championships. He won gold medals at the 1989 and 1996 World Cup. A silver medal at the 1991 World Championships, making the Olympic team in both 1988 and 1992.
An assistant at Albany he also coached at the New York Athletic Club.
 |
134/142 lbs
Andy Seras |
No one ever said you had to be a nice guy to be a great wrestler and that is certainly the case with Andy Seras. Every bit as nasty of an individual off the mat as he ever was on it, Seras had an outstanding career for the Great Danes. A graduate of Niskgyuna High school, Seras made an immediate impact taking runner-up honors at the 1981 NCAA Division III tournament as a freshman. He would then place fourth as a sophomore and third as a junior before capping off his career as an NCAA Division III champion in 1985.
Post college he made the 1988 Olympic team, also coaching the Olympic team in 2004 as well as the World Team in 2001, 2002 and 2006. He coached at both Binghamton and Sacred Heart.
 |
150 lbs
Bill Mallin |
A graduate of Smithtown East, Bill Mallin won the NCAA Division III title in 1991.
 |
HWT
Chris Tironi |
Another wrestler who never won a state title, was Chris Tironi whose best finish was third in 1983. He began his career at the NJCAA level wrestling for SUNY-Cobleskill (another program we've lost) winning a conference title before coming to Albany. Competing for the Great Danes Tironi would win NCAA Division III championships in both 1986 and 1987.
Post college he was an Olympic Alternate in both 1988 and 1992.
No comments:
Post a Comment